Out of the box or out of control?
I’m reading Get Back in the Box : Innovation from the Inside Out
I also love Rushkoff’s whacks at consultants, on page 184, under the heading, Getting Lost versus Finding Yourself.
“Getting back in the box should not be a complex process. No guru is required. You’d be better off getting a bad case of the flu than hiring another corporate consultant or renting out a mountain retreat. Because from what I’ve seen, the easiest way for a business to get lost is by setting out on a journey to find itself. Many of the mighty have fallen this way. Giant companies like Shell, Intel, and Lucent, under constant scrutiny by Wall Street and its many media arms, sometimes allow a temporary shift in market conditions or the competitive landscape to provoke panic. Then it’s off to the woods with a corporate consultant for some outlandish scenario planning, trust exercises, and so-called discovery.”
And, that’s why I started one of my recent articles with “I hate consultants.” There are no quick, magic answers and no consultant can lead you to Nirvana. And, I really hate what I call “drive by” strategic planning, with those one-day retreats, team exercises and flip charts. Gets people all jazzed up for a day or two; then they get back to office and real work - and that’s the end of that. (That said, if one of you out there needs some consultant pontification at a retreat in - say - Paris, give me a ring 
)
(That flu reference in the quote makes sense if you read the book! Go. Now. Read. It’s probably at your local library.)
Happy Friday - I’ll get back to my normal “Friday martini” postings next week.
Read more:
Creativity is great, but not a panacea.
Strategic Planning: Good intentions don’t equal good results.
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April 4th, 2006 at 7:07 am
Mary - I taught a creativity course for an MBA program last fall and used Twyla Tharp’s “The Creative Habit” as one of the resources. It’s great for people who like to tackle issues as a process and a discipline rather than as a “microwavable solution” (or “drive by strategic planning” - well put!). What caught my eye on your post was the “thinking outside the box” reference. Most people don’t even know what their “box” is, let alone how to think outside it. There were 24 students in my class, and spending 16 weeks to guide each of them through their paradigm mine fields was an eye-opening experience. Would like to know how many of them are continuing their personal journeys.
April 4th, 2006 at 7:31 am
Yes, it would be interesting to check in with your students. Unfortunately, way too many people think that in order to have a “box” or system - they have to restrict creativity and only do things a certain way.
And, as any (good) programmer will tell you, the reason to learn the code inside and out is to be able to improve on it. Sames applies to all types of disciplines and topics. Learn Marketing 101 so you can improve on it. Accounting. Finance. etc. etc.